Gasol powers Bulls past Bucks, 95-87

CHICAGO (AP) — Pau Gasol had a career-high 46 points to go along with 18 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls bounced back from a pair of ugly losses with a 95-87 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

Gasol was 17 for 30 from the field and 12 for 13 at the line. Kirk Hinrich added 16 points for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had nine points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the opener of a three-game homestand.

The Bulls were coming off a pair of bad losses to Utah and Washington, when they shot a combined 36 percent from the field. They weren’t much better against Milwaukee, finishing at 40 percent (35 for 88), but Gasol’s big performance was enough to hold off the Bucks.

Brandon Knight scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which had won its last five road games. Jared Dudley had 15 points, and fellow reserve O.J. Mayo finished with 12.